If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Extracting tips and advice, help!

I had two hives that didn't make it, first winter with bees. I decided to extract most of the honey before putting in new bees, there were full supers on both hives and a lot in the second of two brood boxes as well.

Question 1: I bought a hand crank two frame extractor and the honey doesn't want to spin out of the frames very well. Is temperature a big factor? I'm doing it in my kitchen at room temp, 70 degrees more or less. Finally got out a space heater to set near the operation, and it seems to be helping some, but it is still not spinning out very well. Any suggestions?

Question 2: After reading other comments on the bees not being interested in the honey frames due to flow being on, what should i do with my frames? Just put them back in the hives for the new crop of bees to deal with? New packages arriving this coming Saturday.

Re: Extracting tips and advice, help!

Diana,

Honey temperature is a very big factor in extraction. If you could get the frames up to 90º to 100º F you will have better luck.

Assuming that your hives did not fail due to foul brood. I would put the extracted frames on the hive for your new packages to clean up/feed on. With it uncapped, they will quickly clean-up/use any leftovers.

You could also not extract any more today, give your bees a BIG head start honey wise, and let them decide if they need the honey while they are getting established. If they don't need it they won't uncap it. In a few weeks you could pull the honey, it will be 90 odd degrees in temp, and extract with (relative) ease.

Re: Extracting tips and advice, help!

Yes, temperature makes a huge difference. I made a very big cardboard box to enclose (insulate) plastic boxes of frames, put a space heater inside with a thermostatically controlled outlet box inside, (you can't trust the thermostat in those cheapo space heaters). Set it for 95F and leave it overnight. The frames extract effortlessly next day.

I have my spun frames out for the bees to clean up and there is a good flow on. That just means that fewer bees do the cleanup and it takes them a few days longer. It is being cleaned up, plus there is no full blown feeding frenzy. I put the boxes of frames on ant moats so the ants don't try to help out.